THE CURIOUS SEEKERS

Listen to this Article One of the most anticipated and, at times, controversial themes in Christian eschatology is the event often called the "rapture," the idea that believers will be caught up to meet the Lord. But what does the Bible really say? Is it about escaping the world or welcoming the King? Is it a secret rapture or the glorious return of Jesus? Let's look at it together. The Popular Picture: Escape and Fear For many modern believers, especially those influenced by dispensational teaching, the rapture is envisioned as a sudden, secret evacuation of the faithful from a doomed world. This view gained traction in the 19th and 20th centuries and was popularized through novels and films. The narrative goes like this: Jesus returns secretly to snatch away the Church, then tribulation and judgment fall upon the earth. But is this the biblical picture? The Biblical Language: Meeting the Lord Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 : “For the Lord himself w...

Listen to this Article One of the most common critiques against Christianity is the claim that “faith is blind.” Many assume that believing in God requires us to shut off our brains, leap into the dark, and accept things without reason or evidence. But is that what the Bible means by faith? The short answer is no. Christian faith is not blind gullibility, it is trust in a trustworthy God, grounded in real evidence, history, and revelation. What People Mean by “Blind Faith” When skeptics accuse Christians of “blind faith,” they often mean: Believing without evidence. Accepting claims despite contrary evidence. Suspending reason and logic. In that sense, “blind faith” is more like wishful thinking or superstition, and the Bible never calls us to that. Biblical Faith: Rooted in Revelation The word “faith” in the New Testament comes from the Greek pistis , which means trust, confidence, or reliance. It is not believing without reason, but placing trust in someone because they...

Listen to this Article Certain questions cut straight to the heart, and this is surely one of them: “If God is good, why is there suffering in the world?” We feel it at gravesides, in hospital rooms, and in the silent battles of the soul. Skeptics wield it as a weapon against faith, while believers wrestle with it in prayer. But Scripture gives us an answer, not a philosophical bandage, but a redemptive reality in Christ. God Is Not the Author of Suffering From the beginning, God’s creation was declared “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There was no sickness, no death, no sorrow. Humanity was designed for fellowship with God, not for pain. Suffering entered the world not by God’s design, but through sin. Paul says plainly: “Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12). Sin opened the door to every form of corruption, including sickness, disease, poverty, and oppression. So when we ask, “Why is there suffering?” the answer is not that God o...